Magnetic eraser and brush



June 19, 1962 w. MEYER 3,039,435

MAGNETIC ERASER AND BRUSH Filed March 13, 1959 IN VEN TOR.

alzbr ygerj United States Patent 3,039,435 MAGNETIC ERASER AND BRUSH Walter Meyer, 5522 Everett Ave., Chicago, Ill. Filed Mar. 13, 1959, Ser. No. 799,165 Claims. (Cl. 120-36) This invention relates to an improved combination eraser and brush for removing pencil or ink markings or the like, and more particularly to a novel magnetic eraser and brush of the aforesaid type.

In the past, various erasing devices have been advanced which included a rubber-like eraser and a connected brush for removing the eraser particles from the erased surface. Such devices usually comprised an eraser portion and a hair or flexible bristle brush portion that was encased in a metal band or collar connecting the eraser portion of the device to the brush portion to provide a unitary assembly. Such devices, while generally satisfactory, were relatively expensive and required several manufacturing steps before the device was completely assembled. Moreover, in use, such devices were frequently lost or at least were difficult to find with the result that considerable time was expended in locating the device on a crowded desk or similar site. Devices of this type also proved unsatisfactory when used to erase ink or deeply impressed type in that the metal band or clamp which connected the eraser and brush elements frequently bruised or gouged the operators fingers when pressure was applied.

The present invention overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages by means of an improved combination magnetic eraser and brush device in which the brush portion is in the form of a cap of rubber-like material that is adapted to be removably connected to the eraser portion at one end thereof. According to the present invention, the assembled eraser and brush members or portions have a pocket defined therebetween that is adapted to receive and retain a small magnet. The eraser and brush assembly can thus be conveniently suspended on a ferrous article in the vicinity of the user, such as a typewriter frame, and is always readily accessible for use. Inasmuch as no metal, other than the enclosed magnet, is used in the contruction of the device, the danger of injury to a users fingers is eliminated.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the invention to provide an improved combination eraser and brush device.

A specific object of the invention is to provide a combined eraser and brush constructed and arranged to be magnetically attracted to ferrous articles, thereby permitting the device to be conveniently mounted or stored in the vicinity of the user.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combination eraser and brush device utilizing a two-piece construction such that each portion of the device may be separated from the other and replaced when necessary.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved combination eraser and brush device in which the brush portion thereof is in the form of a cap that is adapted to be slipped over an end of the eraser portion, the brush and eraser portions being constructed and arranged to receive and retain a magnet therebetween.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description which follows the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view, on a reduced scale, showing the present invention in an inoperative magnetically engaged position with a typewriter;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the invention illustrating one specific embodiment thereof;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the article shown in FIG. 2;

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FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2; p

FIG. 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the article and showing a portion of the internal construction and arrangement of the parts thereof prior to assembly; and

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 4, on a reduced scale, showing a modified form of the invention.

Briefly described, the present invention contemplates an improved combination eraser and brush device that is adapted to be magnetically attracted to ferrous articles such that the device can be conveniently positioned in the vicinity of its use. To this end, a two-piece eraser and brush member construction is employed, and a pocket is defined therebetween to receive a magnet. The eraser member is generally conventional to .the extent that it is formed from rubber, or like material, and has an elongated rectangular shape, one end thereof being reduced in size. The brush member of the device is also formed from elastomeric or rubber-like material and has a portion thereof shaped to fit over the reduced end of the eraser member like a cap. The brush elements are preferably integrally formed with the brush member and are in the form of thin flexible leaves. A small magnet is disposed in a pocket between the brush and eraser members, the side wall of the cap portion of the brush member being reduced in thickness in the area of the pocket to permit a closer proximity of the magnet to the surface of an article.

Referring now to the drawings, a combination eraser and brush device constituting one specific embodiment of the invention is illustrated and indicated generally at 10, the latter being shown in FIG. 1 in an inoperative or storage position with an article of ofiice equipment, such as a typewriter T.

The combination eraser and brush device 10 comprises an elongated one-piece eraser member or portion 11, a brush member or portion 12 having a cap portion 13 that is adapted to be slipped over one end 14 of the eraser member 11, and magnetic means in the form of a bar magnet 15 carried by the eraser and brush members as will be described more fully hereinafter. The eraser member 11 has an elongated generally rectangular shape, its front and rear surfaces 16 and 17, respectively, being tapered from the end 14 toward the remote or work engaging end 18 and the edges of the latter being beveled, as at 19, as is customary in pencil and ink erasers.

The eraser member 11 has its sides 21 cutout, to provide a reduced width section 22 at the end 14 and a pair of shoulders 24- defined by the cutouts which limit the extent of engagement of the cap portion 13 on the section 22. The sides '21 are cutout to a depth substantially equal to the side wall thickness of the cap portion 13 such that when the cap portion 13 is slipped over the section 22, a substantially uniform width of the. assembled eraser and brush members is obtained (FIG. 2). As best seen in FIG. 6, the eraser member 11 also has a transverse notch or recess 26 formed in the front surface 16 of the reduced width section 22, the notch 26 preferably having its base wall 27 slanted slightly so as to be substantially parallel to the tapering front surface 16 of the eraser body 11. The side walls 28 of the notch 26 preferably are perpendicular to the base wall 27, but could be inclined if desired.

The eraser portion 11 may be formed from natural or synthetic rubber or similar materials having the desired abrasive or erasing action. A filler material may be included to provide a crumbling action when the device is to be used as a pencil eraser, or an abrasive substance 3 such as pumice, may be included when the device is to be used as an ink eraser.

Referring again to FIGS. 2 and 3 in conjunction with FIGS. 4 and 6, it will be seen that the brush member 12 preferably comprises the cap portion 13 and a plu' rality of brush elements 33 carried thereon. As previously mentioned, the brush member 12, including the cap portion '13 and brush elements 33 are integrally formed with each other and are of a rubber-like or elastomeric material. The material of the brush member 12 is preferably more resilient than that of the eraser member 11 in order to provide the desired flexibility and brushing action. To this end, the brush elements preferablycomprise a plurality of thin flat leaves which extend longitudinally with respect to the elongated eraser portion 11 and are. transversely spaced from each other. While the brush elements may be of any desired number, shape and thickness, five elements are shown, each having a thickness of the order of .045 inch and being spaced from an adjacent leaf by a distance of the order of .065 inch. In addition, an improved brushing action is obtained if the central leaf, indicated at 33a is longer than thenext two adjacent leaves 33b, and the outermost leaves 33c are shorter than the intermediate leaves 33b (FIGS. 3 and 4).

As best seen in FIGS. 4-6, the cap portion 13 has a hollow interior, indicated at 34, and a tapered exterior shape with the sides thereof, indicated at 36, tapering to a, width substantially equal to that of the sides 21 of the eraser member 11. The front and rear walls of the cap portion 13, indicated at 37 and 38, respectively, also taper toward the eraser, body and have theirremote end edges beveled, as at 391, to provide a smooth transition between the surfaces 37I6 and 3817 when the parts are assembled. The cap portion '13 has a rectangular shaped opening 40 formed'in the tapered end wall thereof providing access to its interior 34, the opening 40 being somewhat smaller than the perimeter of the reduced end section 22 so that cap portion 13 must be stretched inorder to insert the reduced end 22 into the cap portion 13. Thus, the cap portion 11 of the brush member 12 detachably engages the eraser member 11, and is retained. in snug fitting relation therewith when the parts are assembled V The cap portion 13 has the inner surface of its front wall 37 formed with a recess or depression 41 (FIGS. 4 and which overlies the notch 26 when the cap portion 13 is fully engaged with the eraser body so that a pocket 43 is defined therebetween. The recess 41 is sufliciently deep to provide a thin. outer web 42 overlying the magnet 15 and having a wall thickness of the order of .020 inch or less. The wall thickness of the remainder of the front wall 37 may be on the order of .060 inch.

'The foregoing tolerances provide the desired degree of resilience and, retention when the cap portion 13 is engaged with the reduced section 22 and permits a'minimum spacing or air gap between the magnet 15 and a metal object against which the device 10 may be disposed.

The bar magnet 15, which is preferably of Alnico or other strong magnetic material, is disposed in the notch 26 with its outer side face in full contact with the thin web 42 so that the magnet can exert a strong magnetic attractive force for adhering the eraser-brush device 10 to. a convenient metal article such as the typewriter in FIG. 1. The magnet 15 is thick enough so that the web portion 42 of thecap is stretched or bulged outwardly (FIG. 4) when the device is fully assembled, thereby holding the parts snugly together in assembled relation. The bulging or protruding of the web portion 4 2 also has the advantage that it permits a rapid visual identification of the magnet side of the device 10 when it is to be mounted on a typewriter or the like. It will also be evident from 4 g in the pocket 43 of the device 10, it will be understood that another pocket could be provided on the opopsite side of eraser and brush members 11 and 12, and another magnet positioned therein so that the device 10 would adhere to a metal article regardless of which side of the device was brought into contact with the article.

Referring now to. FIGURE 7, a modified form of the invention is illustrated and designated generally at 50, like reference numeral-s being used to identify identical parts with the device 10-. As will be apparent from the drawing, the device 50 is generally similar to the previous embodiment in that it comprises an elongated one-piece eraser member 51, a brush member 52 having a capportion 53 and brush elements 33, and magnetic means in the form of a bar magnet 55 carried by the eraser and brush members 51 and 52. The device 50 differs from the previous embodiment in that the inner walls of the cap portion 53 on both sides of the eraser member 51 are recessed as at 41 to define two thin web portions 42, and the bar magnet 55 is disposed transversely of the eraser member 51 and is somewhat longer than the thickness of the eraser member 51 so as to concurrently contact the inner walls of both web portions 42. The eraser member 51 may be provided with an opening 56 therethrough for this purpose. In all other respects, the construction and operation of the device 50 is the same as that of the device 10. Inasmuch as the magnet 55 has each 'end thereof in contact with the inner walls of the web portions 42, both Web portions 42 arebulged outwardly, and either side of the device 50 may be brought into contact with a metal article to mount the device in an inoperative position.

Thus, the presence of the magnets 15 and 55 renders the devices 10 and 50 magnetically attractive to any fer- 'rous article in the vicinity of the work area, thereby permitting the devices to be conveniently stored in'a plurality of accessible locations. Moreover, the two-piece construction employed in both embodiments facilitates replacement of the brush and eraser members as required.

While only two embodiments of the invention have been herein illustrated and described, it will be understood that modifications and variations thereof may be effected with out departing from the scope of the concepts herein disclosed and as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:.

1. A combined eraser and brush device comprising an elongated eraser member having a transverse notch at one end portion thereof, a brush member having a plurality of integral flexible brush elements at oneend thereof and a hollow cap portion at its other end detachably fitted over said one end portion of said eraser member, said brush member being made of elastic material and said cap portion having a wall portion of reduced thickness FIG. 4 that the protrusion of the magnet 15 outwardly 7 into the recess 41 also provides a keying action which further retains the cap 13 in place on the eraser member 11. Whileonly one bar magnet 15 has been shown disposed defining an internal recess and. a thin web, said recess being disposed opposite said notch and defining a magnetreceiving pocket therebetween, and a magnet element disposed in said pocket inclose-fitting engagement with. said web, said magnet element being sufficiently large to effect outwardly bulging of said web whereby to provide a snug elastic fit between said cap portion and said one end portion of said eraser member, and said magnet element extending into said notch and into said recess for retaining said eraser member and said brush member in keyed relation.

2. A combined eraser and brush device comprising an elongated eraser member, a brush member including a hollow elastic, cap portion having an opening at one end thereof and a wall portion of reduced thickness, providing a thin web at one side of said cap portion, one end portion of said eraser member extending intosaidopening, in detachable, generally telescopic, snug-fitting relation with said cap portion, a plurality of integral, thin, flexible brushing leavesextending from the opposite end of said cap portion longitudinally of said eraser member, and a magnet element projecting laterally between and snugly engaging said one end portion of said eraser element and said thin web, whereby said magnet element is resiliently retained in fully enclosed relation between said eraser and brush members and said thin web facilitates magnetic adherence of the device to a metal surface.

3. The device of claim 2 further characterized in that said one end portion of said eraser member is provided with a lateral recess opposite said thin web and defining therebetween a pocket receiving said magnet element.

4. The device of claim 2 further characterized in that said opening in said cap portion is restricted relative to the size of said one end portion of said eraser member whereby said cap portion must be stretched to accommodate insertion of said one end pontion of said eraser member.

5. The device of claim 2 further characterized in that 15 said magnet element extends laterally through said one end portion of said eraser member and snugly engages said cap portion at opposite sides thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 931,405 Frederick Aug. 17, 1909 1,530,309 Durkin Mar. 17, 19:25

, 1,649,052 Zimmet Nov. 15, 1927 2,268,023 Dunn Dec. 30, 1941 2,385,859 Jacobson Oct. 2, 1945 2,434,973 Williams Jan. 27, 1948 2,439,162 Edwards Apr. 6, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS 203,426 Great Britain Sept. 13, 1923 

